Walking Sticks

[Streetcar]

It's my understanding that the spike (thorns) are left on for a reason...the thorns are poisonous and if you got into a row with a hooligan or a highwayman, and he grabbed your stick, you could rip it out of his hands and it would do nearly as much damage to him (either shredding or poisoning) as if you'd hit him with the rootball end.

The guys that still harvest these sticks build up an immunity to the poison, but it's there...and that's one reason there are fewer and fewer every year.

That might very well be, but for the stick play I've worked with, I need something to slide in my hand just a bit. It still has the knobs, but the ragged edges of the thorns have been pulled off.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Although this walking cane is my wife's won at a raffle Rabbie Burns Night, she allows me to use it. Yep there is a sword in there!

I seem to recall that sword sticks, while lawful to possess, are illegal to carry in most jurisdictions. Be careful...

[Sir William]

Robert, Ancienne Alliance whittles these walking sticks from his past Christmas trees that were selected from the woods near his home on the French Alps. Let tell you these are indispensable in hiking there! Robert was kind enough to make this one a gift to me that I've taken home to Virginia.

Mael,

Any problems getting it on the plane on your return trip? In the past I'd seen anything longer than a cane refused, to included collapsed hiking poles, and I wasn't confident that it could be safely packaged for the cargo hold.

We had a craftsman at the Elliot Gathering who was making some very beautiful sticks and I would have liked to have gotten one, but I wasn't sure how to get it back.

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

Here are a couple pics of my simple walking staff. Collected it from the property line at my parents' place in western PA. Not sure exactly what variety of thorny tree it is. They were formerly used as growing fences, but are now considered nuisance plants. Make excellent staves though, light but strong. This one is mostly an 1" or less in diameter, but can easily support my not inconsiderable full weight.

On a short hike at Gambrill State Park near Frederick, MD (couldn't get the camera to sit level)


Shot of the staff


Closeup of the top (left side)


Closeup of the top (right side)

From the color (and I assume it is oiled and/or stained a bit) it looks to be Maclura pomifera, commonly known as Osage Orange, Bois d'arc, or just Hedge apple. The heartwood is yellow when cut but ages (or stains) a beautiful rich red brown. It is very strong and about as tough and durable as any wood. Native Americans used it for bows, hence the other name.

In the 19th century, it was planted extensively for fences, and when kept sheared and trimmed, was a formidable barrier. When let go, however, these trees get large, and I have trees in old hedgerows that are more than 2' in diameter and over 100' high.

I think I'll make one myself. Topped with an antler burl it should work well.

[svc40bt]

From the color (and I assume it is oiled and/or stained a bit) it looks to be Maclura pomifera, commonly known as Osage Orange, Bois d'arc, or just Hedge apple. The heartwood is yellow when cut but ages (or stains) a beautiful rich red brown. It is very strong and about as tough and durable as any wood. Native Americans used it for bows, hence the other name.

In the 19th century, it was planted extensively for fences, and when kept sheared and trimmed, was a formidable barrier. When let go, however, these trees get large, and I have trees in old hedgerows that are more than 2' in diameter and over 100' high.

I think I'll make one myself. Topped with an antler burl it should work well.

Probably is that one, though I think there are a couple others of the same family, common in western PA. I did stain it as best I could, (didn't really take stain at all) and a couple coats of danish oil. Not quite as light as the colapsible aluminum ones, but a bit more handsome.

[Bart_In_A_Kilt]

...now "THIS" is a walking stick.

[tarpondboy]

These are a couple of walking sticks I carved





its just a hobbie